Standing/Sitting

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Thanks Nathan, but I don't know how keen I am on those bent pins yet.

You could try KC Strings "tilt block" apparatus, if the hesitation is just on boring the hole. It seems well thought out and should be simple enough for a handy bassist to install himself...

[Richard Prowse]

Thanks Thomas. Actually I came home from work to practise, late yesterday afternoon - it was very hot and humid. I felt tired, so I pulled out my stool and reset my spike on the second notch. I'd watched this video earlier in the day and have often sat like this in the past. Without thinking about NHOP, or the video, I assumed the same sitting position. It felt very comfortable and I finished up practising for twice as long as I had intended. Mission accomplished, I guess. It's good when you learn from the masters!

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

I'd watched this video earlier in the day

That was so good it hurt my feelings... Time to spend a few hours watching some more of that sort of thing...

[Thomas Erickson]

I dig the playing for sure, but the technique makes me say hmmmmm...

Guess I'd have to see him playing some different stuff to "get" how it works as an all-around approach.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

I dig the playing for sure, but the technique makes me say hmmmmm...

Guess I'd have to see him playing some different stuff to "get" how it works as an all-around approach.

Thomas, my friend, this guy could pizz quavers at 336bpm. Seems to me that the technique was working. This way of sitting works fine with the bow too.

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Thomas, my friend, this guy could pizz quavers at 336bpm. Seems to me that the technique was working. This way of sitting works fine with the bow too.

Oh, I don't mean to knock his technique or anything - and sure, whatever works works, even if it looks odd!

But at the same time, there is much to be learned from established techniques too; I think a lot of times we (bass players especially) get ahead of ourselves thinking "well techniques A-Z don't seem to be working for me, I must be unique or a genius" and off we go into developing the next great method, or just abandoning the pursuit of real technique, when the original problem was that we simply didn't understand (or weren't properly taught) some fine, underlying qualities or points of the basic techniques. Kind of like how a great artist throws paint at a wall and it is a masterpiece, but if I throw paint at a wall I'm a vandal (or a retard).

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

Oh, I don't mean to knock his technique or anything - and sure, whatever works works, even if it looks odd!

But at the same time, there is much to be learned from established techniques too; I think a lot of times we (bass players especially) get ahead of ourselves thinking "well techniques A-Z don't seem to be working for me, I must be unique or a genius" and off we go into developing the next great method, or just abandoning the pursuit of real technique, when the original problem was that we simply didn't understand (or weren't properly taught) some fine, underlying qualities or points of the basic techniques. Kind of like how a great artist throws paint at a wall and it is a masterpiece, but if I throw paint at a wall I'm a vandal (or a retard).

Thomas, I'm listening (well, reading actually) to what you say. I've certainly never considered myself a misunderstood genius! Don't tell the others, but I'm just not very bright. Yes, established techniques stop us reinventing the wheel - a wise man seriously regards what has gone before; what tools the master has chosen. Personally though, as I get older (still younger than Ken), I see the power of intuition - granted I have been playing string instruments for a little over 50 years and maybe I've learnt a technical trick or two. I personally think that good technique is all about remembering the basics...
Am I in tune? Am I playing in time? Am I phrasing? What the hell am I trying to say?

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

I dig the playing for sure, but the technique makes me say hmmmmm...

Guess I'd have to see him playing some different stuff to "get" how it works as an all-around approach.

I've listened to his recordings for years, but never watched a video. As someone whose lack of technique is essentially derived from the Simandl book, I found that way he plays to be enormously odd, but it works quite well for him. In fact, This thread makes me want to ask more questions about posture and other variants. So I shall...

[Richard Prowse]

Technique, in the end is about what works. You've got to be comfortable too, otherwise you won't want to play for too long. When I was young I studied violin at university. There seemed to be a million rules about how you should hold the bl00dy thing. I never felt comfortable; and I was too worried about how I was holding the violin and the bow to concentrate on making music. In the end it really put me off. When I took up the bass I had to work most things out for myself (especially on electric, because there didn't seem to be any good teachers around, or many instruction books - this was the 1970s). I only made one rule - it's not allowed to hurt. I approached my technique from what I had learnt about string instruments, and by watching people who played well. Over the years I've put in quite a bit of time studying how NHOP plays because I just love his playing. I find his approach very logical. I'd be very interested to know more specifically what people don't like about his technique. I can tell you that how he sits is very comfortable.